Death by Subway

A person pushed into the path
Of an approaching train
Might clamber to avoid his death,
But it will be in vain.

For even if the engineer
Tries slamming on the brake,
There isn’t time enough to stop,
Despite the life at stake.

A true New Yorker knows by now
To stand back, by the wall
So she won’t be the one who’s shoved
And neither will she fall.

Yet twice in recent weeks, we heard
Of tragic subway deaths.
Imagine how those victims felt
As they took their last breaths.

The New York murder rate is down
From poison, guns and knives;
How awful, then, that subway cars
Have ended people’s lives.